Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

May 19, 2017

Ekiti
The Ekiti State Coordinator for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Nwano Ukagha, has urged rural dwellers to feed more on fresh vegetables and fruits in order to stay healthy.
Ukagha, gave the advice during the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, held at Ara-Ekiti, a community in Ikole Local Government Area last Tuesday.
She said that consumption of vegetables and fruits, which are readily available and cheaper to the rural people, would help them to naturally build their body system against diseases.
Ukagha said, it had been scientifically proven that human beings get easily attacked by diseases through the kind of food they eat.
She urged rural dwellers, especially mothers, to abstain from eating too much processed foods.

FCT
The Federal Government says it will make a case at the upcoming Africa Union (AU) conference on the need to bar illegal entry of herdsmen from West African countries into Nigeria.
Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this at a town hall meeting in Abuja last Tuesday.
Ogbeh said the move had become necessary as a result of the incessant crisis between farmers and herdsmen across the states of the federation.
He expressed regrets that, most of the violent herdsmen who engaged in different crisis with farmers were foreigners from other neighbouring West African countries.

Kogi
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, said last Tuesday that policemen would soon be deployed to their communities of origin to enhance community policing.
The IGP told a security stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja that the bulk of the 150,000 policemen to be recruited over the next five years would serve in their respective communities.
Idris, who was represented by Shaibu Gambo, Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, said that the move was to take the police closer to the people.
He said that the police, was faced with shortage of manpower but promised more policemen and equipment for Kogi to further secure the people against rampaging armed robbers and kidnappers.

Lagos
A former Chief Accountant of Vanguard Newspaper, Bhadmus Abiodun, was last Tuesday sentenced to 14-years in prison by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court for forgery and stealing N3.1million.
The money belongs to the media house.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to seven years in prison on count one.
“He is sentenced to seven years in prison each for counts two to eight.
“The prison terms for counts two to eight are to run concurrently,” Ipaye said.
Abiodun, a middle-aged man and a resident of No. 5, Tijani Ashogbon St., Bariga, Lagos was convicted of an eight-count charge of conspiracy.

Nasarawa
A Masaka Chief Magistrates’ Court in Nasarawa State, has ordered the release of 21-year-old Emmanuel Edeh, from Keffi prison, after spending one week there.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Victor Manga, had ordered that Edeh be remanded in prison for beating up his mother and insulting his father as well.
Manga, ordered the release of the youth after hearing from his father that his wife (Emmanuel’s mother) had not been herself since their son was sent to prison.
“My Lord, my wife has been sick since I told her that our son has been taken to prison, in order for him to learn his lesson.

Niger
Farmers in Niger State have advised the state government to decentralise the distribution of fertiliser so as to minimise diversion by middlemen.
“We want government to decentralise the distribution pattern, we suggest that the commodity be distributed through the 274 wards,”Chairman of their umbrella body, the All farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Shehu Galadima, said last Tuesday in Minna.
He said that the ward structures were the closest to farmers in the rural areas and would be the best selling points.
Galadima, also advised government to route the sales through farmers cooperative societies to ease the delivery of the commodity to the consumers.
“Currently, farming inputs are delivered to the wrong people. We must check that.

Ogun
An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday sentenced a 35- year- old man, Gbenga Adekanbi, to two years imprisonment for stealing a Bajaj motorcycle valued at N260,000.
Adekanbi, who lives at Ita- Oshin Bayinbo, Ijemo, Abeokuta, was arraigned on a charge of stealing.
He, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mr Idowu Olayinka, sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of N60,000 fine.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olakunle Shonibare, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 2 at about 11:44p.m. at No. 11, Bodunde compound, Saje in Abeokuta.

Osun
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has promoted the immediate Jaaran of Ife, High Chief Adekola Adeyeye, as the Second- in-Command.
The Director, Media and Public Affairs, Mr Moses Olafare, Ooni’s Palace, said Adeyeye is now the third on the order of the hierarchy of Ife traditional council, (Ooni-in-Council).
Olafare, in a statement issued last Tuesday in Ile-Ife, said that the new position was the reward for loyalty, commitment to service and dedication to Ife Kingdom.
According to Olafare, the monarch described Adeyeye as a patriotic Ife indigene and great loyalist of the throne of Oonirisa, which he had served meritoriously for 30 years in various capacities.
He said that, the new Lowa of Ife started his full service at the palace in 1987 when he was seconded to the palace as an Emese (Traditional emissary) of Ooni.

Plateau
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State chapter, last Tuesday in Jos organised a memorial lecture for its members who died while on duty.
The lecture was mainly dedicated to the Plateau State Government’s press crew members who lost their lives on May 16, 2007 while on official duty.
The lecturer, Mr Joseph Ari, Director-General of the Industrial Trust Fund, spoke on “Journalism: Responsibility, Risk and Resilience in a Changing World’’.
According to Ari, a veteran journalist, journalists are the watchdogs of the society and may have enemies in the course of their duty.
“This lecture is dedicated mainly to eight of the Plateau State Government press crew who lost their lives on May 16, 2007 while on official duty in Shendam Local Government Area.

Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it will construct 1, 000 units of one-bedroom houses for low-income earners in the state.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this last Tuesday in Sokoto, when he received the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Malam Mustaph Shehure, who paid a courtesy visit.
He said,” the aim was to improve the welfare of the people as well as provide opportunity to more citizens of the state to own houses.
“ Already, my administration has completed the 500 housing units it inherited from the last administration and have been inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari when he visited Sokoto in November, 2016.
“We hope to complete another 500 housing units at Gidan Man Ada, before the end of this year.

Taraba
The Taraba Police Command, on Tuesday confirmed the death of three persons in fresh herdsmen and farmers conflict in Bali Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesman, ASP David Misal told newsmen in Jalingo that the police had deployed additional personnel to Gazabu, Kungana, Tukun Ruwa, Utsua Daa and Kpenkpen villages, where the crisis occurred.
“Yes we received reports that since on Sunday, there has being series of attacks in the remote communities in Bali local government area of the state, but the command is on top of the situation.
“Due to the remoteness of the affected areas, we can confirm three deaths for now, but we will get back to you as soon as we get more updates,” he said.
Zaki David-Gbaa, the Chairman, Council of Tiv Traditional Rulers Forum in Taraba, claimed that 11 farmers had died since the crisis started.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 weeks ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) says it has strengthened collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enhance quality control and enforcement frameworks.

Mr Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, the Head of Communications, REAN, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the collaboration would also involve stakeholder engagement on testing, certification and capacity building in Nigeria.

He said the synergy would strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, promote policy alignment, and ensure stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.

“REAN reaffirms its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance; tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.

“Enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth.”

Lloyd-Dietake said that at high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.

According to him, the issues include inconsistencies in standards, affordability issues linked to certification processes; and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.

“The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system,’’ he said.

Lloyd-Dietake urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.

He said such team work would ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.

In response, SON acknowledged the important role REAN continued to play in supporting standardisation within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.

SON further confirmed that REAN would be actively involved in future standard review processes and upcoming stakeholder engagements related to renewable energy and electric mobility standards development.

Lloyd-Dietake said REAN affirmed its willingness to formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said the MoU is aimed at deepening cooperation, promoting quality assurance, and accelerating Nigeria’s transition towards reliable and standardised renewable energy solutions.

Nation

Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

Published

3 weeks ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, implemented by Self Help Africa, has expanded access to safe water and sanitation services for more than 320,000 people in Kano and Cross River States.

The organisation disclosed this on Tuesday at the WS4H National Results and Learning Workshop in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed achievements and lessons from the intervention.

Speaking at the event, Self Help Africa Country Director, Joy Aderele, said the programme demonstrated that sustainable WASH improvements require strong institutions, effective governance, adequate financing and collaboration.

Aderele said the UK-funded programme was designed to strengthen systems that support sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

According to her, the intervention focused on improving governance, planning, financing, accountability and sector coordination to ensure resilient service delivery.

“More than 320,000 people now have improved or restored access to water services through programme-supported interventions,” she said.

She added that more than 5,520 household toilets were constructed in Yala and Makoda Local Government Areas, boosting sanitation, public health and efforts to end open defecation.

Aderele said the programme also strengthened public investment in WASH, with Cross River increasing its sector budget by 211 per cent in 2026 and Kano by 169.07 per cent.

She added that dedicated WASH budget lines had been established across 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in both states, strengthening accountability and institutional commitment.

According to her, both states reviewed and adopted updated WASH policies, while key planning documents were developed to guide future investments and service delivery.

She said Cross River also recorded a major legislative milestone through the passage of the Water Law and Open Defecation Prohibition Bill.

Aderele added that lessons from interventions in Yala LGA were already informing expansion efforts in Obubra Local Government Area.

While commending the achievements, she noted that capacity gaps, resource constraints and climate-related pressures remained challenges to sustainable WASH services.

“The sustainability of these gains will depend on continued government leadership, adequate financing, strong partnerships and investment in institutional capacity,” she said.

Also speaking, the Programme Manager of WS4H, Mr Timothy Ibeawuchi, said the intervention focused on strengthening systems needed to sustain gains and attract future investments.

According to him, the programme engages stakeholders in developing strategies that preserve achievements and support long-term service delivery.

“System strengthening work takes time because it addresses the fundamental issues responsible for sustainable and resilient service delivery,” he said.

Ibeawuchi said the programme strengthened policy development, planning, financing, monitoring and evaluation systems across the WASH sector.

He said two pilot local government areas were supported to develop WASH strategic plans outlining sector goals, targets and activities between 2026 and 2030.

According to him, the plans will guide future interventions and improve service delivery in the affected councils.

Earlier, the representative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Chidera Chukwu, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s development efforts in spite of the programme nearing completion.

Chukwu commended the Self Help Africa-led consortium for delivering the programme with professionalism and a strong focus on systems strengthening.

He said the consortium contributed greatly to strengthening Nigeria’s WASH sector through policy reforms, improved coordination and enhanced accountability.

“Together, we have advanced key policy and legislative reforms, including open defecation-free laws and strengthened state WASH frameworks,” he said.

According to him, the reforms represent enduring system-level changes that will continue delivering benefits beyond the programme’s lifespan.

In his remarks, Mr Jamilu Habu, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, commended the programme’s achievements.

Habu, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the intervention strengthened governance, coordination, evidence-based planning and institutional capacity in the WASH sector.

He described the workshop as an opportunity to review achievements, share lessons and identify pathways for sustaining and scaling successful interventions.

According to him, the programme’s innovations and best practices will guide future policies and investments aimed at expanding access to safe WASH services.

Habu stressed the need for continued collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.

He said stronger partnerships remained essential to achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Nation

Lagos Residents Stranded As Floods Cut Off Ajah, Mafoluku Communities

Published

3 weeks ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Ajah, Mafoluku and other flood-prone communities in Lagos have recounted how Thursday’s torrential rainfall left them stranded, submerged homes and cut off access to major roads.

The residents, who spoke with Tide source, on Friday called for urgent government intervention to tackle the recurring flooding blamed on poor drainage infrastructure.

Along Mobil Road in Ajah, Mrs Rukayat said floodwaters submerged about 200 metres of the road, forcing commuters to wade through waist-deep water.

“The water level was almost up to my lap. People literally had to wade through it to get home,” she said.

According to her, many motorists turned back, while others abandoned their vehicles and continued their journeys on foot.

“The only way to pass through the water was by walking or using a tricycle. Even then, the tricycles broke down and had to be pushed,” she said.

Rukayat said some youths assisted stranded tricycle operators by pushing their vehicles through flooded sections for a fee.

She said residents had repeatedly alerted authorities to the flooding but little had changed.

“We reported this when the rains started, but apparently nothing has been done about the problem,” she said.

She attributed the flooding to poor drainage and possible blockage of a major canal serving the area.

“There is a big canal here, but I don’t know what is preventing water from flowing through it properly,” she said.

According to her, overgrown vegetation and sand deposits might have obstructed the canal, reducing its capacity to discharge stormwater.

She added that although floodwaters usually receded after a few hours, sections of the road remained waterlogged.

In Mafoluku, residents said several streets, homes and access roads were submerged, leaving many unable to return home after going about their daily activities.

Mrs Iriagbonse Okunkpolor, a resident of Agboola Street, said what began as a short trip to buy household items became an hours-long ordeal.

“I left my house to buy a few items nearby, but the rain started suddenly and flooded the entire street.

“I was stranded for hours because there was no safe way back home,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Mukaila Idris, described the flooding as both dangerous and distressing.

“The current was very strong. I watched people pay young men to carry them across the water because they were afraid of being swept away or falling,” he said.

According to him, only physically fit residents could navigate the floodwaters safely, while many others waited several hours for the water level to subside.

Mr Williams Ekpo, who lives in the Eyinogun area, said the flood extended beyond the roads and entered residential compounds.

“The floodwater entered our compound and damaged some household items.

“This happens almost every rainy season, yet nothing seems to be done to address the drainage problem,” he said.

The residents urged the relevant authorities to investigate the persistent flooding and improve drainage infrastructure to prevent a recurrence during the rainy season.